Washing machine



f Nov. 2s, 1939;

F. A. coNrERMAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1936 'lll/41111 fill/lill 4 m m -I- m k ///////////V///////A Patented Nev. A2s, 1939 I. 2,181,596

' Blackstone Manufacturing Company, Inc.,

' Jamestown, NL Y., a `corpora'ti in ofv New Yo'rky' Application August 6," 1936, `Serial :No.1945626 sf'claims. Rc1.' 24e-14e) z This invention relates'toj improvements in a is Aof greater'diameter than-the opening at the supporting member or base'for 'a washing ma-A i therend, this-difference in diameter being obchine tub. i l tained as shown inthe drawing, by provision of The preferred embodiment of the-invention l' a series of `steps IMA-I5, and I6,v or in any other discloses aleg supported base adapted'to mount practical manner,v as? forexainplepby provision 5 a' washing machine tub."` The base is annular Y of acyli'nder havingtape'red walls. The-endof and is either stepped or tapered to provide dif#l the base; defined by thestepped-portion I4,`when vferent diametered ropenings at: opposite ends'l saidend is lowermost (Figure 4); terminates in thereof. Suitable legs are `fitted 'to the-central an inwardly directed iiange I8. ThelotherV end 10 part of the base, thus enabling-use of. said base of the base defined by the stepped portion I6, 10 with either the small or large diametered open# when this end is lowermost(Figure 3) ,terminates ing, serving asa mounting for-a small-or large in an inwardly directed ange I9. The base .diametered tub. 1 memberIZ-'is provided with two `different diame- One of the objects of the invention lies vin thev Etered openings for the purpose ofinverting it to provision of a baseand supporting legs for the.. -accommodate either of two different; sized tubs. 15

tub of a washing machine." *When it is planned'touse the base witha small `Another object 'of the invention lies in the prodiametered tub, steppedportion I4 is lowermost vision of a base member which is invertible to" andlange I8 is adapted to` rest upon the sup- A accommodate' tubs of different diameters.' porting legs hereinafter described. Similarly,

Another object of `the invention li'es i'n thev KAwhen' it is desired to supporta large diametered 20 provision of va. base to which supporting legs are tubfon the'base I2, stepped portion I6 is lowerremovably secured; most and a iiange I9 isfprovided tomount the Another object of the 'invention lies in the base on'suitahle legs.` It will, therefore be under- 'pr'ovision of a tub base and legs, the b'ase being stoodfthat the' ange I8 and I9 is formed only invertible with respecttoi'the legs 'to mount "when it`is'determined with which size tub the 25 either of two sizesof washing machine tubs. base-I2 is to-be utilized. Other and further objects of. the invention will`` lThev legs I3'are so constructed that they may be more fully understood lfrom a consideration securedto the base lI2 regardless of which end of the followingspecication taken in conjunqof. said base is upz-ierrnost.A Each leg I3 is-gener Ition with the kaccompanying drawing "and in "allychannel-shaped and comprises a base wall whicli,v l` 2| and side walls l22. The upper end of the leg Fig. l is a side 'elevation of a leg supported `is closed b'y a curved wal123'which may or may washing lmachiney base adapted to accommodate not be' integral withv the` side and b ase walls. a large diametered tub.; f iTiieV lower endA of the leg is closed yby a further Fig. 2 is a side elevation of; a leg" s` upportei wal1`24 which' serves to support a housing for a washingmachine base; in inverted position to -caster25. Theside wa1ls-22 are'of gradually inthat shown in Figure L an'd adapted to aCCOIIHnO creased width :from the lower wall 24-to a point v date a smallV diametered tub slightly above the-longitudinal center ofthe leg. 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View Atthis point fthewalls are lcut awayto form 4 0 the structur shown in Figure i", 'wall 2 3,`the 4edges 21 thereofbelng ata slight y Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview of 'incline te the base wall 2|.` It will'be underthe connection between the 'baseand supporting stood thatlth'e distance fromsho'ul'ders 26` to the leg of thestructureshown in'Figure 2; wall' 2 3 of the legA is approximately that of the."

L15 Fig. 5 is aperspective view' of "one of the legs combinedfwidtli of two of the stepped portions of 45 showingthe parts lbywhich the leg 'is' secured to "the base I2, the purpose of this being hereinafter` thetub base; and more 4fully brought out. Adjacent the-upper` Fig. `6 shows afinodicationof the means for end oi the ieg |3 is Aav bolt 28, having a vhead 29 y securing a legtothe tub base". j secured in' any suitable manner as by welding,

Reference is had to the dr.a wing wherein is to the inner Iface ofthe base wall 2l. f Either of 50` shown apart oiawashing machine generally inv v two different length spacers or sleeves- 3l and dicated bythe reference',numeral I U.' The ma- 32y are adapted to be mounted onthe bolt 28.

of 'a portionofthe base and supporting leg of sh`"u1der`s 26' a 'i 1d then continue upwardly to the o chine includes a, cylindrical tub Il,v base I2, and These sleeves lserve to adapt the leg f orountg: -v .legs.' The base lI2 .is in thefform of a"cylin ing on the base in either position thereof.J -Adja dex-,open at both ends.. Il'iel opening at oneerid cent the shoulders. isa pair of strap bolts 33 which are secured to the walls 22 in any suitable manner as by welding. These bolts project beyond shoulders 26, at an angle thereto, and serve as a means for securing the leg to the lowermost stepped portion of the base.

Reference is now had particularly to Figure 4 of the drawing which shows the base in a position to mount the smaller diametered tub 20. It will be noted that leg I3 is lso mounted with respect to the base I2 that the stepped portion I4 abuts the edges 21 of Walls 22, and flange I8 of said portion rests on shoulders 26. The space between the end wall 23 of the leg and the stepped portion I5 is closed by a resilient ller 34 which is provided with a suitable opening 35 through which spacer 3I and bolt 28 project. Spacer 3I is of a length to extend yfrom the head 29 of the bolt to the outer face of portion I5. A suitable opening is made centrally of the portion I5 and a nut 36 secures the upper end of the leg to this portion. Two openings are formed in the angle produced by the meeting edges of flange I8 and stepped portion I4. Bolts 33 project through these openings. V-shaped washers 31 are mount- 'ed on bolts 33, and suitable nuts 38 secure the central portion of the leg to the stepped portion I4. i

Figures 3 and 6 of the drawing show the base I2 in a position to mount the larger diametered tub II.- In this 'instance the shorter sleeve 32 is mounted on bolt 3|, one end of the sleeve abutting the stepped portion I 5. The end wall 23 of the leg also abuts the portion I5 adjacent its shouldered connection with stepped portion I4.

A suitable opening is made in the stepped porltion I5 through which bolt 3| projects, being secured by nut 36. With the base in this position, stepped portion I6 is slightly removed from the edges 21 of walls 22 of the leg. In some instances, it may be found more suitable to utilize by nut 43. It will be understood that' with the 5o base in this position flange I9 abuts shoulders 26.

The structure disclosed in Figure 6 of the drawing is a combination of'. the structural details shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this modification strap bolts 44 similar to strap bolts 33 are secured 55 to walls 22 andiproject substantially perpendicular to the base wall 2l. Bolts 44 project through suitable openings in stepped portions I4 or I6, being secured `against removal by nuts 45. The upper bolt and sleeve, in this figure, utilized 60 to secure the leg to the central stepped portion I5, is identical with bolt 28 and sleeve 32 and,

therefore, bears these reference numerals.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention contemplates 'provision of a 65 stepped or tapered base having different diametered openings for the purpose of mounting different diametered tubs, and that regardless of the position of the base, legs'of the same design and structure may be utilized. It will also be un- 70" derstood that modifications in the number of steps in the base, number and position of bolts for securing a leg to the base, and'other variations or adaptations of 'the structure herein shown and described are contemplated in so far u as these modiiications are within the spirit and rigidly joining said leg to said spaced stepped Aportion.

scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus vset forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is: 5

. 1. In a washing machine, a base member adapted to mount a tub, a plurality of stepped portions in the walls of said member, said stepped portions providing different diametered openings at opposite ends of said member, a supporting leg 10 for said member, the upper portion of said leg abutting one of said stepped portions, a ller interposed between another of said stepped portions and the adjacent edge of said leg, and means rigidly securingsaid leg to two of the 15 stepped portions of said member.

2. In a washing machine, a cylindrical base member adapted to mount a tub, a plurality of stepped portions in the walls of said member, said stepped portions providing different diam- 20 etered openings at opposite ends of said member, an inwardly directed flange on the lower edge of said member, a leg for supporting said member, shoulders on said leg forming a seat for the flange of said member, the portion of said leg above 25 said shoulder being engaged with. one of the stepped portions of said member, a resilient filler located between the next adjacent inwardly ofiset stepped portion of said member and the upper portion of said leg, and bolt means pro- 30 jectng through said filler and two stepped portions of said member for rigidly securing said leg to said member.

3. An invertible base member for washing machine tubs, said member being generally cylin-I '35 drical and having a plurality of stepped portions in the walls thereof, said stepped portions providing openings of different size at opposite ends of said member, a supporting leg for said member, one of the stepped portions being adapted 40 to have full width abutment with a portion of said leg, another of said stepped portions being spaced therefrom when said member is in upright or inverted position, a resilient filler between said leg and the spaced stepped portion, and means compressing said filler and rigidly securing said leg to the spaced stepped portion.

4. An invertible base member for washing machine tubs, said member being generally cylindrical and having a plurality of outwardly projected annular stepped portions providing openings of diierent size at opposite ends thereof, a supporting leg for said member, the upper portion of said leg being adjacent at least Atwo stepped portions of saidmember and in contact with one of said stepped portions when said member is in upright or inverted position, means interposed between said leg and another of said stepped portions, and further means rigidly securing said leg to at least one of said adjacent stepped portions.

5. An invertible base member for washing machine tubs, said member being 'generally cylindrical and having a plurality of outwardly projected annular stepped portions providing openings of different size at opposite ends thereof, a 65 supporting leg for said member, the upper por- 6. An invertible base member for washing main one position, having the lowermost stepped chine tubs, said member being generally cylinportion engaged Vwith said leg and, in another drical and having a plurality of outwardly proposition, the second stepped portion engaged with jected annular stepped portions providing opensaid leg, and means rigidly securing said leg to ings of diierent size at opposite ends thereof, a the stepped portion of said member with which it 5 supporting leg for said member, the upper porcontacts. tion of said leg being adjacent at least two FRED A.l CONTERMAN. stepped portions of said member, said member, 

